Fox has announced the release of its new X2 shock, claiming it to be the world’s first four-way adjustable monotube mountain bike shock.
The brand says its shift to a monotube design has enabled the X2 to be more durable, as well as allowing for full pressure balancing, increasing the shock’s usable range.
Alongside the X2, Fox has also released its new DHX2 coil shock, which features identical internal architecture but uses a coil instead of an oversized air can.
The new X2's pricing ranges from £809 / $699 / €939 / AU$1,199 to £849 / $739 / €989 / AU$1,299, while the DHX2 ranges from £729 / $679 / €909 / AU$1,199 to £829 / $719 / €959 / AU$1,249.
The X2 comes in two-position Performance and Factory spec, or as a DH option that doesn’t feature a climb position.
Fox says it has addressed the reliability issues that haunted the previous X2, with the new shock said to be more durable than before.
Moving to monotube
The new architecture sees the X2 departing from a twin-tube design and moving to a monotube, which Fox says enables pressure balancing in the shock.
Pressure balancing is said to benefit the suspension by maintaining low positive pressure in the damper, enabling a much faster damper response time to rider inputs.
Positive pressure in the damper prevents cavitation and alleviates oil aeration, both of which can negatively affect the performance of mountain bike shocks.
Fox says it needed to introduce pressure balancing to match the performance of the GRIP X2 damper found in the brand’s forks.
The new shock is said to have greater control over the shock’s rebound stroke and how the rear tyre behaves, leading to greater rider confidence.
The monotube design has also enabled Fox to increase the main shaft diameter from 9.5mm to 12.7mm for added strength and durability.
Four-way adjustment
Unlike Fox’s other monotube shocks, such as the Float X and DHX, which use an orifice and needle design for low-speed compression, the X2 and DHX2 feature an additional adjuster that combines a combination of cams and gears to rotate and move the rebound rod axially.
This rotation also turns the Variable Valve Control (VVC) plate for high-speed rebound adjustment.
Fox says the four-way adjustment gives riders and racers the edge when fractions of a second matter.
Fox X2 Factory ride impressions
I had the opportunity to ride the X2 over two days in Arizona, USA.
The shock was sat in Pivot’s Shuttle LT and was set to the brand’s recommended sag of 30 per cent.
My initial impressions were that the new X2 flutters in and out of its travel with ease without feeling as though it’s sacrificing too much travel in the suppleness.
This suppleness gives an impressive ground-hugging nature to the bike’s rear end, and while nothing compares to a coil on the descents, the X2 doesn’t feel worlds apart.
In the mid-range, the shock feels supportive, while still feeling smooth and active.
There’s plenty of adjustment on hand too, and when dialling in the high-speed compression, the shock can absorb a series of hard-hitting bumps without running out of or pushing you up into the travel.
The firm mode is easy to access and provides a strong platform for climbing without completely hardening the rear end, allowing for good grip on technical climbs.
I’m interested in putting the X2 through its paces on home trails soon to see how it performs over a longer period of time.
Fox X2 spec details
- Size (Eyelet): 210x50, 210x52.5, 210x55, 230x60, 230x62.5, 230x65, 250x75
- Size (Trunion): 185x55, 205x60, 205x65, 225x75
- Adjustability: High/low-speed compression, high/low-speed rebound
- Max air spring compression: 350psi
- Air volume spacers: 1cc increments
- Weight: 720g (210x55)
